1. Open SQL

• ABAP’s database-independent SQL.
• Works on all supported DBs (HANA, Oracle, MSSQL, DB2, …).
• ABAP converts Open SQL statements into the database-specific SQL automatically.
• Ensures portability → same ABAP program runs regardless of underlying DB.
• Supports buffering (e.g., table buffers in SAP).

• Only a subset of SQL is allowed (the part SAP makes portable).

Example :

DATA: it_mara TYPE TABLE OF mara.

SELECT matnr mtart FROM mara
INTO TABLE it_mara
WHERE mtart = ‘FERT’.

• This works in any DB under SAP (Oracle, HANA, DB2, etc.).

• Optimized by SAP kernel, can use table buffering.

2. Native SQL

• Database-specific SQL.

• You write SQL directly for the underlying DBMS.

• Executed via EXEC SQL … ENDEXEC or ADBC (ABAP Database Connectivity).

• No automatic portability → may not work if you change DB.

• No table buffering → always hits the DB.

• Useful when:

  • You need features not available in Open SQL (e.g., DB-specific functions, hints).

  • You want DB-level optimizations.

Example:

DATA: lv_matnr TYPE mara-matnr.

EXEC SQL.
SELECT MATNR INTO :lv_matnr
FROM MARA
WHERE MTART = ‘FERT’
ENDEXEC.

This will only work if the DB syntax matches your system (e.g., Oracle-specific SQL won’t run on HANA).

Key Difference Summary: